BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will deliver an election address to the nation on Bangladesh Television (BTV) on February 9 (Monday) ahead of the national election for February 12. The EC letter said that creating a fair, free and acceptable electoral environment is of utmost importance for holding a credible election. Ensuring equal opportunity for all candidates and political parties in election campaigning on BTV is a key component of such an environment. According to the EC, slot allocations must be made following the Section 6(g) of the National Parliamentary Election Code of Conduct, 2025, and on a first-come, first-served basis. No other political party has so far applied for allocating a slot for election campaigning on BTV, said the EC officials.

Rooted in the proud legacy of the Language Movement and a deep love for Bangla cinema, Dhaka University Film Society (DUFS) has launched the 24th edition of the country’s largest Bangla film festival, “Amar Bhashar Chalachitra 1432.” The festival began on Tuesday, and will continue until Sunday, 8 February, at the TSC premises of the University of Dhaka. Distinguished writer, film critic, and veteran of the film movement "Moinuddin Khaled" was present as the chief guest. Through the big screen at TSC, we want to revive the culture of the traditional cinema hall for Bangladeshi films.”DUFS President Rehnuma Shahreen remarked: “Amar Bhashar Chalachitra 1432 will take you very close to the roots of Bangla cinema. Except for the opening day, films will be shown daily in four slots: 10am, 12:30pm, 3:30pm, and 6:30pm. 3 February (Opening Day): The festival opens at 6:30 pm with Ahmed Hasan Sunny’s Here Political Discussion Is Necessary.

In villages and many urban areas, families traditionally prepare homemade rice bread, halua, beef curry and biryani, which are shared with relatives, neighbours and the poor on the occasion. Large, handmade “mega-sized” breads, along with chickpea halwa, carrot halwa and semolina halwa, are prepared and displayed for sale at street corners across the area. In Chawk Bazar, the century-old traditional bread and halua market reopened for Shab-e-Barat on Tuesday evening. Breads are sold by weight, with special breads priced at Tk300 per kg and regular ones at Tk250 per kg. Carrot halwa sells for Tk300 per kg, chickpea halwa for Tk350 per kg and semolina halwa for Tk250 per kg.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman's daughter, Barrister Zaima Rahman, on Tuesday expressed her hope for a Bangladesh where freedom of expression and diversity of opinions will prevail, and where persons with disabilities, along with all marginalized groups, will have equal opportunities to contribute to nation-building. Zaima Rahman made the remarks while speaking at a discussion titled "Inclusive Bangladesh" with persons with physical, mental, and intellectual disabilities at Gulshan Lake Park in the city. During the interaction, Zaima Rahman listened to participants' concerns, including difficulties related to transportation, road accessibility, lack of inclusive education systems, and unemployment. Participants at the discussion said that persons with disabilities are often not treated as equals in society. Addressing Zaima Rahman, they said that her engagement with them had given them hope and that they now looked forward to seeing meaningful action.

Mujahidul Islam Selim, a member of the presidium of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), said the "Yes" vote in the upcoming July referendum to implement the July Charter must not be allowed to win under any circumstances. He described the referendum as unnecessary and deceptive, saying: “Those supporting the ‘Yes’ vote have already lost. Indigenous parliamentary representation remains minimal despite a population exceeding 4 million. Gajendranath Mahato, joint general secretary of the Bangladesh Indigenous Forum, urged youth to continue the struggle for indigenous rights. The discussion, chaired by Tony Chiran, also featured Falguni Tripura, Khan Asaduzzaman Masum, Ripon Banai, and human rights activist Trijinad Chakma.

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DHAKA, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) revealed that tickets for the upcoming Odommo Bangladesh T20 Cup would be available in the online platform. Tickets for the Eastern Gallery will be available at Tk 100, while North and South Stand tickets will cost Tk 200. Club House tickets are priced at Tk 500, and Grand Stand tickets will be sold for Tk 1,000. Bangladesh T20 captain Liton Das will lead Dhumketu XI, while Najmul Hossain Shanto has been named captain of Durbar XI. The group-stage matches will be held on February 5, 6 and 7, with the final scheduled for February 9.

He said 13 Ansar members will be deployed at each polling centre to remain on vigilant guard. To ensure a free, fair, neutral and peaceful election, arms support for Ansar members has been increased. The DG made the remarks while addressing an election preparatory rally of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP, Khulna district, as the chief guest at Khulna District Stadium this afternoon. Out of more than 9 lakh registered Ansar and VDP members, about 5.6 lakh will be deployed in the election. Nearly 11,000 Ansar and VDP members from Khulna district attended the rally.

DHAKA, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS)- Rangpur U-17 district football team beat Dinajpur U-17 district football team by 4-0 goals in a Teesta zone match of the U-17 National Championship held at Shaheed Abu Sayed Stadium in Rangpur today. In the day's match, Hafiz Alam, Sifat Hossain, Shahriar Hossain Sabuj and Salman Farsi scored one goal each for Rangpur. In the day's second match, Lalmonirhat U-17 district football team edged past Panchagarh U-17 district football team by 1-0 goal. In the proceeding, Jishan Islam scored the all-important goal for Lalmonorhat.

Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki today unveiled the book Quintessence of Nazrul, the English translation of Kazi Nazrul Islam's works, as the chief guest in the capital. Photo: BSSDHAKA, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) - Quintessence of Nazrul, the English translation of Kazi Nazrul Islam's works, was unveiled today to promote the global reach of the national poet's literary contributions. Marking the unveiling, a publication ceremony and cultural programme was organised by the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam Institute at its auditorium this noon. Mostofa Sarwar Farooki thanked all involved in the translation work, saying, "It is a very good initiative to translate the works of Nazrul into English to take him to the global stage. Renowned Nazrul researcher and Nazrul Award recipient Prof Irshad Ahmed Shaheen delivered the keynote speech, highlighting the depth and significance of Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam's works.

The wave in Olin reminded me that the opposite is also true. This is why I’ve come to think of office hours not as a time slot, but as a metaphor. In my first column, I wrote about office hours — about the strange, underused gift of an open door. That wave in Olin mattered because it reminded me that education is not just a sequence of courses, but a web of relationships over time. Professor Jan Burzlaff Jan Burzlaff is an Opinion Columnist and a Postdoctoral Associate in the Program for Jewish Studies.

The interim government has come up with a draft education law that proposes a five-year plan to transform teaching and learning in Bangladesh, phasing out private tuitions, guidebooks, and corporal punishments from classrooms. The Secondary and Higher Education Division published the draft online on Sunday night, inviting feedback via email (opinion_edu_act@moedu.gov.bd) by 5pm on Feb 7. Secondary education will cover grades 6-10, while grades 11-12 will constitute higher secondary education. Secondary education will include general, madrasa, and technical-vocational streams, with steps to improve Qawmi madrasa standards. The draft mandates the formation of central research laboratories and a National Research Council to enhance teaching quality, teacher training, research, innovation, curriculum evaluation, and policy advice.

Bangladesh has experienced its second earthquake in a single day, this time originating near the Myanmar border. According to GFZ Earthquake Explorer, the tremor struck at 9:34pm Bangladesh time with a magnitude of 5.9 on the Richter scale. No immediate reports of casualties or damage have emerged. This follows an earlier tremor in the day.

DHAKA, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) - The holy Shab-e-Barat, the night of fortune, is being observed throughout the country tonight with due religious fervour and devotion. On this occasion, Islamic Foundation has chalked out programmes at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque here. The foundation is holding waz (religious sermons), doa-mahfil, special prayers, recitation from the Holy Quran and Hamd-Naat at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque from this evening. Besides, religious sermons centering the Shab-e-Barat are being delivered at different mosques after Maghrib prayers alongside holding special munajat after Isha prayers tomorrow in the country. On the occasion, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has issued a message greeting all Muslims of the country and elsewhere across the world.

DHAKA, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) -The fourth round of Bangladesh Championship League (BCL) football begins tomorrow (Wednesday) with two matches are billed for the day at two separate venues in the capital. On the day, Suktara Jubo Sangsad take on Wari Club at Bashundhara Kings arena practice ground while Chittagong Abahani Limited meet BRTC Sports Club at Fortis ground (Jalshairi). Both the matches kick off at 2.30 pm. In the remaining fourth round matches on the following day (Thursday), Khelaghar Samaj Kalyan Samity face Little Friends Club at Fortis ground (Jalshiri) City Club face Dhaka Rangers Football Club at Bashundhara Kings arena practice ground and Chattogram City Football Club meet Dhaka Wanderers Club at the same venue.